So the new year always starts off with good intentions, right? We're gonna stop biting our nails, stop cursing so much, stop eating so much, yadda, yadda, yadda. It is now the last day of January and well, things haven't gone so much the way we had hoped. I haven't gained any extra weight, but I certainly haven't lost any either. I still mutter swear words under my breath if someone cuts me off in traffic. And well, my fingernails, let's just say, they don't have bandages on them today--so I guess you could say I'm better.
The Christmas decorations are put away. The nativity scene is packed up. I still have a wreath on my door, but I think I should probably remove it as the evergreens are looking more "ever brown" and brittle. Yep, I'm feeling let down. And sort of sad. And maybe a little lost too. I know that the years cycle around and for every up there is a down. But still...
I was reading a book the other day entitled, The Greatest Prayer about the Lord's Prayer in the New Testament. I got to thinking about the things the prayer says, but this book actually begins by pointing out what it DOESN'T say. It doesn't say to believe a certain way, to profess a certain creed or even mention Jesus. It doesn't mention "covenant law" or sacrifice or heaven or hell for that matter. It seems to come right from God down to us. Just as God promised to do; to always come down.
And so in this pondering of my feeling let down and sort of sad, I had a glimmer of hope. God always comes down. We don't have to be better than we are (although it doesn't hurt to be nicer to people). We don't have to make sure our prayers are correct and done in the proper manner. We don't have to do a darn thing! God loves us through all our good days and bad. Whether we are praying to him or not. Whether we acknowledge God or insist that God is NOT there for us. He is. He just is. And no matter what, I find that comforting and hopeful even among this dreary feeling. And hope for all of us in the coming days as well.
So I will try to go about my day feeling as though I'm not alone--since I'm not. Blessings and peace to you as well. Amen